Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

North Carolina singer/songwriter Rhiannon Giddens has so far released two exemplary albums and sandwiched in between 'Tomorrow Is My Turn' and 'Freedom Highway' in her back catalogue is this five-track EP of similar quality. Culled from the T Bone Burnett-produced sessions that spawned her debut album and acting as a sampler of sorts to showcase the former Carolina Chocolate Drops singer's sheer versatility, this short but sweet release kicks off with a superb take on the Sister Rosetta Tharpe gospel blues classic "That Lonesome Road" which comes complete with a great slap upright bass solo from Dennis Crouch and an authentic vocal from Giddens. Elsewhere, the other side of the blues is visited with a version of Ethel Waters' "Underneath The Harlem Moon" - full of gin, reefers, gambling and hints of violence - whilst the self-explanatory "Mouth Music" sees Giddens delve into Scots-Gaelic territory to highlight her utter dexterity as a vocalist. The remainder of the EP is made up of two folk-tinged numbers with the self-penned "Moonshiner's Daughter" and the traditional title track - adapted with skill to echo today's times - reflecting Giddens' standing as one of the music world's finest storytellers.

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